coping 2 | The Health Sessions

40 Journal Prompts to Help You Heal, Grow and Flourish

For as long as I can remember, writing down my thoughts, hopes, dreams and plans has instantly made me feel better. So to me, it’s no surprise that journaling has so many benefits for your emotional and physical wellbeing.

Trusting your deepest feelings to paper helps to reduce stress, which plays a major role in your overall health. Research shows that emotionally expressing yourself through journaling can strengthen your immunity and reduces symptoms in asthma and arthritis patients. And of course, traditional journaling is also a great tool for self-reflection and personal development, and to rewrite your personal story after traumatic events.

But a diary-style of writing isn’t the only way to keep a journal. Gratitude journaling has gained a lot of popularity over the years, and it’s not hard to see why. Study after study shows that writing down 3 positive things that happened that day is one of the most effective ways to feel happier.

Writing by hand also signals to your brain that ‘this is worth remembering’, which is why so many people use a journal to define their (health) goals and visions. If you write and read your dreams, plans and to-dos every day, you’ll be much more likely to actually achieve them.

No matter if you’re looking to boost your health, happiness or self-growth, grab yourself a journal – I recommend the beautiful & inspiring collection from Emily McDowell – and start jotting down your thoughts with these 40 journal prompts!

16 Inner Strength Quotes That'll Unleash the Power Within You | The Health Sessions

16 Inner Strength Quotes to Unleash the Power Within You

“Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed.” – Bob Riley

Tough times can put you to the test. It’s during these moments that you need to dig deep down and tap into your inner strength to pull through.

Your inner strength is a source of endurance that helps you overcome whatever life throws at you. Even under the best circumstances, we’ve all had to find the courage to stand up for ourselves, try something scary and to keep going against the odds.

But when you’ve been struggling with chronic illness, relationship troubles or financial problems for a long long time, some days you may feel like there’s no strength left inside.

If that’s you, don’t loose heart. You can make yourself strong again, even it’s hard right now.

Lay the foundation for inner strength by taking good care of yourself, physically and emotionally. It’s not easy to feel determined and fierce when you’re dehydrated, sleep deprived and surrounded by toxic friends.

Then, focus on the desired outcome instead of obstacles on your way. Having a goal and plan will motivate you and push your worries aside. And don’t forget the bigger picture. Take a step back from your current situation and think about your values, core beliefs and purpose. Let your ‘why’ fuel you.

Also look back on your previous experiences. How have you handled challenges in the past? What can you learn from that? Remind yourself of all the times that you made it through tough times. You could also create a coping box with comforting items, mementos or motivational quotes that lift your spirit when you’ve run out of inner strength.

Finally, cultivate an empowering mindset. The way you talk to yourself matters much more than you might think. So give your inner dialogue an upgrade with positive affirmations or these inner strength quotes, and unleash the power within you!

7 Inspiring Reads about Living with Chronic Illness

This article is written by Katherine Rundell.

Being diagnosed with a chronic condition is a huge challenge, often in unpredictable ways. As your life changes, it can be hard to know how to respond, and your loved ones often struggle how to help as well.

These books offer a wide range of perspectives into living with chronic illness. So whether you’re dealing with chronic illness yourself or someone you love, get reading, get learning and get empowered.

10 Emotional Wellbeing Tips When Living with a Chronic Illness

This article is written by Michael Dehoyos.

When you’re living and dealing with chronic illness, you already know that life isn’t easy, and you need to be mindful of how you’re feeling and how you’re looking after yourself. This means not just with your physical illness, but also your emotional well-being.

Chronic illness can take its toll on your day-to-day life, but with a bit of awareness and by following the steps below, you can take charge of your disease and maintain control of your life and your happiness. Here are ten tips to remember.

12 Body Acceptance Quotes to Feel Comfortable in Your Own Skin

We all have days when we don’t feel happy with our body. Who hasn’t felt conscious about their appearance?

But body acceptance becomes a lot more challenging when it’s not cellulite or pimple you’re concerned about, but scars, serious skin conditions and deformities. Even though you have nothing to be ashamed about, its hard not to worry about what other people will think about your ostomy bag or your extreme swollen ‘Prednison face’.

Plus, how do you accept your own body when it doesn’t work properly? When it causes you pain and heartache every day?

There’s no easy answer, and the road to body acceptance will look different for everybody. But there are some common themes when it comes to loving the skin you’re in.

First of all, stop comparing yourself to others. You’ll never have their exact body. If reading fashion and health magazines or following certain people online gets you down, remove that negativity from your life. Diversify your social media feed; there are so many inspiring spoonies out there rocking their walking aids, insulin pumps and portable catheters!

What’s more, be mindful of your internal dialogue. You wouldn’t constantly put your best friend down with snarky comments, right? So why would you talk to yourself in such a way?

Finally, try to see yourself as a whole person instead of a body with certain physical features and (dis)abilities. You’re so much more than that! Take pride in your smile, your inner strength and the way you cook a mean lasagna.

Hopefully these 12 body acceptance quotes will inspire you to start feeling more comfortable in your own skin.